Load-carrying rack



April 27, 1965 w, u w 3,180,545

LOAD-CARRYIN G RACK Filed Dec. 4, 1962 INVENTOR. EARL W. SOUTHWICKATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,180,545 LOAD-CARRYING RACK Earl W.Southwick, 179 N. Harrison Blvd, Ogden, Utah Filed Dec. 4, 1962, Ser.No. 242,185 9 Claims. (Cl. 224-25) The invention relates to racks forcarrying loads and particularly to load-carrying racks which are adaptedto be temporarily attached to a persons back, to the back of the seat ofa car, or to some other support for transportation from one place toanother.

A variety of racks of this type, embodying a rigid loadcarrying frameand means for attaching such frame to a supporting carrier, are wellknown. This is especially true with respect to so-called pack boards orracks for use by hikers, hunters, mountaineers, and the like forcarrying food, bedding, camping supplies, etc. on their backs. Many ofthese racks are light in weight, structurally strong, capable of beingquickly and easily put in place on the supporting carrier, and foldablefor convenient storage when not in use. Yet, despite the possession ofsome or all of these highly desirable characteristics limitations ofvarious kinds exist in racks of heretofore known constructions whichimpair their usefulness. For example, comfort is an extremely importantfactor in racks intended for carrying on a persons back, and there ismuch to be desired from this standpoint.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide aload-carrying rack that can be carried under heavy load and for longdistances over rough terrain by a hiker, hunter, soldier or the like,much more comfortably than can racks of previously known constructions,without sacrificing the desirable characteristics mentioned above.

In US. Patent No. 2,822,117 granted to R. G. Mack on February 4, 1958,there is shown a type of load-carrying rack, which has a broad and rigidframe adapted to receive and support a load on one broad face thereofand is adapted to be mounted on a supporting carrier, by means of eitherrigid hooks or flexible straps, with its opposite broad face overlying abroad face of the carrier, e.g. a persons back in those instances wherethe rack is to be carried by a person, so that parts of the rigid framerest directly against such carrier. The discomfort of rigid partsbearing against a persons back is alleviated to a certain extent by thefact that this rack also has a second frame, pivoted intermediate itslength to the lower end of the first-mentioned frame, so as to projectbeyond the broad faces of such first frame when in working position toprovide a spacer portion below and extending beyond the aforesaidopposite broad face, and by the fact that a flexible strap is connectedacross such spacer portion transversely of the rack to cushion theweight of the load as it rests upon the lower part of a persons back.

The present invention constitutes an improvement on racks of this typein that, among other things, it provides means to hold all rigid partsaway from the body to prevent their chafing the user. This isaccomplished by utilizing, in combination with a pair of rigidsupportengaging arms of curved hook formation, flexible spacer straps,shorter in length than the hook portions of such arms and connected tothe front and rear of such hook portions, and flexible keeper meansattached to the straps and suspended from the midpoint of the respectivehook portions to maintain the straps in suspended positions so that eachforms, in effect, a pair of chords across the front and rear of itshook.

With this arrangement, the flexible straps contact a users shoulders andeffectively hold all of the upper rigid portions of the rack away fromthe body of the user at the same time as the lower rigid portions arebeing held away by the aforementioned transverse strap.

Patented Apr. 27, 1965 Another feature which ties in functionally withthe above structural combination of this invention is the provision foradjusting the rigid support-engaging arms longitudinally of the first ormain frame, so as to place the load and the transverse cushioning strapin the most favorable positions on a persons back from the standpoint ofcomfort and carrying ability.

Other improvements attributable to the present invention are theprovision of means to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the rackand folding of the rack to compact position. These means compriserotatable mountings for the rigid support-engaging arms, meansresiliently biasing the arms toward support-engaging positions and thecompact folded position, means cooperating therewith for holding thearms in the respective positions, and combination stop and latch meansfor the second frame so as to enable it to be quickly and easily placedinto working position from folded position, and vice versa, and toyieldably secure it in working position.

By making the support-engaging arms axially slidable through the mainframe, longitudinal movement being limited only by the verticaladjusting means, one arm is easily positioned to rotate over the otherand both arms can be moved to a folded position in common against onebroad face of such main frame.

Because the arms are resiliently biased to their support-engagingpositions, either or both of them can be rotated out of the way of theshoulders when mounting the pack on the back, or in removing it. Thebiasing arrangement is advantageously such as will return the arms tothe support-engaging position and normally hold them in this position.This prevents accidental rotation which might result from the. motion ofwalking and climbing or from catching on trees, brush, and the like.

There is shown in the accompanying drawing a specific embodiment of theinvention representing what is presently regarded as the best mode ofcarrying out the generic concepts in actual practice. From the detaileddescription of this presently preferred form of the invention, othermore specific objects and features will become apparent.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the rack in load-carrying position;

FIG. 2, a similar view showing the same rack in folded position;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary, transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4, a similar sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a similar sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6, a side elevation showing the rack of the foregoing figures inplace on a persons back.

In the illustrated preferred construction, rigid side members 15 and 16and upper and lower cross-pieces 17 and i8 are rigidly secured togetherto form a broad carrier frame.

Passing through each of the cross-pieces 17 and 18 are straight sectionsof support-engaging arms 19 and 20. These arms are spaced apart, asshown, a distance sufficient to allow hook portions 21 and 22, which arebent to conform generally to the curvature of a wearers shoulders, to beclear of the neck of the user.

Fixed to support-engaging arms 19 and 20, as by rings 23 and 24 whichare prevented from upward movement by rivets 25 and 26, are shoulderstraps 27 and 28. The straps are further fixed at the end of the curvedsections to one end of the double rings 29 and 39 and thus preventcontact of support-engaging arms 19 and 20 with a users shoulders. Toprevent the shoulder straps from V rivets 46 having a bushing thereon.

along arms 19 and 20, and replacing the bolts in the desired holes, theuser is able to change the elevation of the carrier frame and hence theload on his back, to position it most comfortably.

Pivotally connected to the side members 15 and 16 of the carrier frame,and movable therewith, is a second rigid frame 37 of wide U-formation,the legs 38 and 39 of which are flared outwardly to clear the body of auser.

A flexible strap 40 is connected between double rings a 41, 42 at thefree ends of the legs 38 and 39 and is shoulder straps 27 and 28 andback strap 4%, and that no rigid members will be able to rub against andchafe the body of the user. j

The pivotal connections between generally U-shaped second rigid frame 37and side members 15 and 16 in- ;clude lockplates 43. The lock-plates areformed. rigid "with the second frame, as by rivets 44 and 45, but arepivotally connected to side members 15 and 16 as by In addition, plates43 have pressed out stop tabs 47 and pressed friction detent buttons 48.As the second frame 37 is pivoted from the folded position of FIG. 2 tothe use position of FIG. 1, the friction detent buttons 48 are forcedpast the lower cross-piece 18, until stop tabs 47 contactthe lowercrosspiece 18 to prevent further rotation. The friction detent buttons48 reverse pivoting until sufficient force is applied to overcome thefrictional holding force, but when. such force is applied, the detentmeans will yield- Thus,

although the second frame 37 is locked in position to be loaded, shoulda substantial force be applied to pivot the second frame back to itsfolded position of FIG. 2, the, second frame would pivot before any ofthe pivot pins or connecting rivets would shear off, thu damaging thepack rack.

' Fastened between the support-engaging arms 19 and Simply by removingthe bolts, changing the position of the collars 33 and 34 1 supportingheavy loads without damage thereto.

4 bers i5 and 16 and to provide smooth surfaces at the ends.

Since the entire rack with the exceptions of straps Z7, 28, and so canbe made of a lightweight metal, as for example aluminum or aluminumalloys, weight is kept to a minimum. Inasmuch as the rack consists of amain rigid carried frame, and a second rigid frame which is locked inplace, the rackis easy to load and is capable of Additionally, no rigidportions of the rack structure come in contact with the body of the userto press against and chafe him, and since the position of the load canbe varied on the users back merely by adjusting the vertical location ofcollars 33 and 34, the rack can be made to fit comfortably.

It can also be seen that since spring 4% biases supportengaging members19 and 20 to hold them in the use position of FIG. 1, there is notendency for them to inadvertently pivot off the shoulder of the user.However, the spring biasing means does allow the support-engagingmembers to be easily rotated outwardly from the first rigid frame tofacilitate putting the rack on or taking it off the users back. Whenreleased, the support-engaging arms return to the use position of FIG. 1under the infiuenceof the spring.

Whereas there is here illustratedand described a certain presentlypreferred arrangement of structure which I presently regard as the bestform 'of my invention, it should be understood that various changes maybe made without departing from the disclosed inventive subjectmatter'particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed herebelow. 1

I claim:

1. A load-carrying rack comprising: a rigid, loadsupporting main frameadapted to be carried in a generally vertical position and havingmutually opposite broad faces, one adapted to directly face a carriersupport and the other to receive a load; a pair of support engaging armshaving lower portions rotatably mounted in the frame on respectivemutually parallel axes which are parallel with the vertical axis of theframe, and support-engaging upper portions of hook formation normallyprojecting from said one broad face, but foldable into substantially theplane of the frame when the rack is not in use; a second frame extendingtransversely across the main frame at the lower end thereof and having aposition normal to the plane of the main frame; pivot 1 means rigidlyconnected to said transverse frame inter- 20 is a tension spring 49. Thespring is connected to a triangular shaped hog rings 50, 51 which inturn are connectedv to the arms, so that peaks of the triangles point inthe same direction as do the hook sections 21 and.

22 of the arms, and the triangle bases extend into the straight sectionsof such arms. In load-carrying position, spring 49 engages base cornersof the'triangular hog rings and biases the support arms to the positionof FIG. 1. However, when one ofthe arms is slipped downwardly throughthe rigidframe to allow the other arm to mediate its length andpivotally connected to the main frame so that the transverse frameprojects beyond both broad faces of the main frame. when in normalworking position, and serves both as a platform for a load, and a spacerbetween the main frame and a support, and is pivotable to a secondfolded position; stop means to prevent said transverse frame frompivoting from said folded position beyond the position normal to theplane of the main frame; and detent means to yieldably hold said rotateover it and both arms are rotated inwardly to the position shown in FIG.2, the ends of the spring slip to the apices of the triangular shapedhog rings to hold the support-engaging arms in the folded position.

The double rings 29, 30 and 41, 42, in addition to providing holdingmeans for the shoulder and backlstraps' as previously described providemeans whereby an additional front pack or kangaroo pouch canbe carried.

Such a pack would be supported by straps connected to the free rings ineach double ring arrangement.

In use, the load to be carried rests on the second rigid frame and issecurely fastened to tie points 52 formed on each of the members 15 and16; These tie points may,

Cap members for example, consist of protruding rivets. 53 and 54 areprovided to strengthen the ends of memtransverse frame in said lastmentioned position, but

responsive to pressure on the frame to release'said transverse framefrom its held, position before any of the components of said rack aredamaged by said pressure 2. A load-carrying rack comprising: a rigid,loadsupporting main frame adapted to be carried in a generally verticalposition and having mutually opposite broad faces, one adapted todirectly face a carrier support 7 and the. other to receive a load; apair of support-engaging arms having lower portions rotatably mounted inthe frame on respective mutually parallel axes which are parallel withthe vertical axis of the frame, and supportengaging upper portions ofhook formation normally projecting from saidone broad face, but foldableinto substantially the plane of the frame when the rack is not in use;and biasing means for yieldably holding said support-engaging arms intheir normal projecting position and their folded positions.

3. A load-carrying rack comprising: a rigid main frame having a front, aback, a top, and a botom; support-engaging arms rotatably mounted in theframe in mutually spaced relationship and having hook end sectionsextending above the top of said frame; a second rigid frame; meanspivotally connecting said second frame to said main frame transverselyat the bottom thereof, said means including second means to latch saidtransverse frame in loadcarrying position in a plane normal to the planeof said main frame assembly; first and second flexible strap meanshaving a length slightly less than that of the hook sections and beingconnected to the inside of the hook sections of said support-engagingarms; and third flexible strap means connected to said transverse frame,said first, second, and third strap means being adapted to contact acarrier, and to transmit the weight of said load-carrying rack and aload thereon.

4. The load-carrying rack of claim 3, wherein said rigid main framecomprises first and second side members rigidly interconnected by upperand lower cross-pieces.

5. The load-carrying rack of claim 4, wherein said support-engaging armsinclude straight sections extending through said upper and lowercross-pieces and in which a collar is positioned on the straight portionof each arm below the lower cross-piece, said main frame resting on saidcollars, and said collars including adjustment means for positioningsaid collars along said arms.

6. The load-carrying rack of claim 5, wherein resilient means areprovided to bias said supportengaging arms to a position where the hookend sections of said arms extend away from the front of the main framein planes substantially normal to the plane of said main frame.

7. The load-carrying rack of claim 6, wherein said resilient biasingmeans additionally biases said support engaging arms to a foldedposition wherein the hooked end sections of said support-engaging armscross each other, and one of said hooked end sections abuts one of saidside members of the first rigid frame assembly.

8. The load-carrying rack of claim 3, wherein said transverse framecomprises a U-shaped member, the legs of said U-shaped member beingflared outwardly at the ends thereof, and wherein said third strap meansis connected between the flared out ends of the said U-shaped member.

9. The load-carrying rack of claim 8, wherein said means to pivotallyconnect said transverse frame to said rigid main frame comprises a pairof plate members, said plate members each being rigidly fixed to saidU-shaped member at opposite intermediate points of the legs thereof, andconnected through a pivot pin to said side members at locations betweensaid upper and lower cross-pieces, and said means to yieldably lock saidtransverse frame in load-carrying position comprises friction detentmeans formed on said plates and engageable with said lower cross-pieceat the front of said main frame when said transverse frame is inposition normal to the plane of the rigid frame, and stop means formedon said plate and engageable with the lower cross-piece at the back ofsaid main frame when said transverse frame is in position normal to theplane of the main frame, said transverse frame being pivotable from theposition normal to the plane of the main frame to a position wherein thecross portion of the U-shaped member abuts the supportengaging arms atthe back of the main frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,348 3/93Barry et al 22425 2,200,411 5/40 Boye 211l00 2,208,962 7/40 De Finetti22425 2,505,467 4/50 Eilert 39-87 2,633,906 4/53 Franz 297255 2,822,1172/58 Mack 2248 2,836,334 5/58 Davis 224-25 2,967,649 1/ 61 Mack 224-8HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

1. A LOAD-CARRYING RACK COMPRISING: A RIGID, LOADSUPPORTING MAIN FRAMEADAPTED TO BE CARRIED IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION AND HAVINGMUTUALLY OPPOSITE BROAD FACES, ONE ADAPTED TO DIRECTLY FACE A CARRIERSUPPORT AND THE OTHER TO RECEIVE A LOAD; A PAIR OF SUPPORT ENGAGING ARMSHAVING LOWER PORTIONS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME ON RESPECTIVEMUTUALLY PARALLEL AXES WHICH ARE PARALLEL WITH THE VERTICAL AXIS OF THEFRAME, AND SUPPORT-ENGAGING UPPER PORTIONS OF HOOK INFORMATION NORMALLYPROJECTING FROM SAID ONE BROAD FACE, BUT FOLDABLE INTO SUBSTANTIALLY THEPLANE OF THE FRAME WHEN THE RACK IS NOT IN USE; A SECOND FRAME EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE MAIN FRAME AT THE LOWER END THEREOF AND HAVING APOSITION NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF THE MAIN FRAME; PIVOT MEANS RIGIDLYCONNECTED TO SAID TRANSVERSE FRAME INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH AND PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO THE MAIN FRAME SO THAT THE TRANSVERSE FRAME PROJECTS BEYONDBOTH BROAD FACES OF THE MAIN FRAME WHEN IN NORMAL WORKING POSITION, ANDSERVES BOTH AS A PLATFORM FOR A LOAD, AND